Wolves in Beowulf and Other Old English Texts

A new book explores the nuanced meanings of wolves in early medieval literature, reclaiming their reputation as more than mere corpse-scavengers. It traces the history of associations between wolves and humans, including the superstition that the wolf could steal a person's speech and the perceived contiguous natures of wolves and human outlaws. The book provides new animal-centric readings of key texts, placing them within a lupine literary network that transcends time and place.

Format: Hardback
Length: 270 pages
Publication date: 19 July 2022
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

A comprehensive exploration into the portrayal of wolves in early medieval literature aims to reclaim their reputation, delving into their multifaceted meanings beyond their association with corpse-scavenging. The most renowned wolves in Old English literature, such as the Beasts of Battle, are portrayed as ravenous heralds of doom, haunting the battlefield in search of fresh meat. However, it is essential to recognize that these animals carry a range of nuanced interpretations throughout the corpus. Two such meanings are inherited from ancient and medieval European lupine motifs: the superstition that wolves could steal a person's speech and the perceived interconnectedness of wolves and human outlaws. This book traces the historical development of these associations and presents evidence suggesting that writers in early medieval England were aware of them. By examining the intricate, contradictory, and even sympathetic depictions of wolves and wolf-like entities found within these texts, this book challenges the prevailing notion of the medieval wolf as a one-dimensional, man-eating creature. Instead, it presents a rich tapestry of interpretations that highlight the complexity and diversity of these animals' roles in early medieval literature. Through this animal-centric lens, the book establishes a lupine literary network that transcends time and place, offering new insights into these texts and their enduring significance.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781843846406